Literature Podcasts
Librivox: His Dog by Terhune, Albert PaysonJoin Now to Follow
Albert Payson Terhune, perhaps best known for his book Lad, a Dog (later turned into a popular movie), was also a breeder of collies and a journalist. Some of his collie lines survive to this day. His Dog is a story about Link Ferris who finds an injured dog on his way home one evening. Knowing nothing about dogs, Link nurses the dog back to health and the two form a bond such as only can be formed between human and canine. Unable to locate the collie's owner, Link christens his dog 'Chum' who becomes invaluable in tending to the daily needs of his meager farm. Unknown to Ferris however, Chum's original owners have been looking for their lost collie, and the story finds Link torn between that which he knows is morally right and his love for what he believes has become his dog . (Summary by Roger Melin)
By LibriVox
Librivox: What Diantha Did by Gilman, Charlotte PerkinsJoin Now to Follow
Charlotte Perkins Gilman opens a window of history through which we can see a small part of the determined efforts made by women to elevate the circumstances of women in the early 20th century. Diantha Bell is a normal young woman desiring marriage and a home, but also a challenging career in a new territory which raises many eyebrows and sets malicious tongues wagging. Her effort to elevate housework and cooking to a regulated and even scientific business, for the relief of homemakers, is a depiction of the late 19th century movement to promote Domestic Science, or Home Economics, as a means of providing more healthful home life, as well as career paths for women. Diantha's business prospers as she shows her excellent gifts of administration, organization and homemaking. She grows an empire, and brings happiness and wholesomeness to every area of endeavor which she carefully attempts. The improvements in women's opportunities have not been available very long, indeed. This is a good reminder.
By LibriVox
Librivox: Fables de La Fontaine, livre 06 (ver 3) by La Fontaine, Jean deJoin Now to Follow
« Il arrivera possible que mon travail fera naître à d’autres personnes l’envie de porter la chose plus loin » affirmait La Fontaine dans la préface de son premier recueil des fables. Effectivement, l'ensemble des fables du moraliste est si vaste et d'une telle richesse qu'il a fait naître en moi l'envie de vous proposer ma lecture du livre 6. Fut-elle parcellaire, modeste, j'espère du moins qu'elle vous apportera autant de joie que j'ai eu à la réaliser. (par Sylvie)
By LibriVox
Librivox: First Love by Turgenev, IvanJoin Now to Follow
The title of the novella is almost an adequate summary in itself. The "boy-meets-girl-then-loses-her" story is universal but not, I think, banal - despite a surprise ending which notoriously turns out to be very little of a surprise. "First Love" is given its originality and poignancy by Turgenev's mastery of the piercing turning-point (akin to Joyce's "epiphanies") that transforms the character's whole being, making a tragic outcome inevitable. Even the nature symbolism is rescued from triteness by lovely poetic similes - e.g. "but at that point my attention was arrested by the appearance of a speckled woodpecker who busily climbed up the slender stem of a birch-tree and peeped out uneasily from behind it, first to the right, then to the left, like a musician behind the bass-viol." (Summary by Martin Geeson)
By LibriVox
Librivox: Cecilia: Memoirs of an Heiress by Burney, FannyJoin Now to Follow
The plot of Cecilia revolves around the heroine, Cecilia Beverley, whose inheritance from her uncle comes with the stipulation that she find a husband who will accept her name. This proves impossible, and she gives up her fortune to marry for love. Jane Austen referred to Cecilia and other novels in her novel, Northanger Abbey: “'And what are you reading, Miss — ?' 'Oh! It is only a novel!' replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. 'It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda'; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best–chosen language. The title of Austen's Pride and Prejudice may have been inspired by a passage at the end of Cecilia: “remember: if to pride and prejudice you owe your miseries, so wonderfully is good and evil balanced, that to pride and prejudice you will also owe their termination.” (Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Karen Merline)
By LibriVox
Secret World Chronicle Special PromotionJoin Now to Follow
Secret World Chronicle Special Promotion
By Baen Books
Part Time Author PodcastJoin Now to Follow
Author, speaker, and mom Genny Heikka joins kidlit writer, illustrator, and tech expert dad Aaron Robbins to talk about writing and publishing while balancing the unexpected twists and turns of work and family. The Part Time Author Podcast is an easy going conversation between two authors and their guests about living life and telling stories through the written word.
By Genny Heikka, Aaron Robbins & Guests
episode – Consider the BookJoin Now to Follow
Consider the Book is an ongoing conversation on literature.
By Nilakantan Rajaraman, Lavanya Gopinath
The Lit ShowJoin Now to Follow
The Lit Show is a weekly literary radio show based at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and broadcast on KRUI Radio in Iowa City. Founded in January 2010 by host Joe Fassler, The Lit Show features interviews with writers, readings and performance, reviews, and literary news. The program airs Wednesdays at 3 PM CST on KRUI Radio and litshow.com. There are many ways to listen to The Lit Show: by radio or web broadcast through KRUI, by podcast, and by visiting our archives.
By The Lit Show